Pauline Oliveros: Electronic Works, 1965 + 1966

Liner Note Author: Pauline Oliveros .
Three compositions from pioneering American electronic composer these pieces date from 1965 to '66 and display her early explorations into tape music. The first piece I of IV is a real-time recording of a partially improvised experiment at the artist San Francisco Tape Music Center, which creates hypnotic droning effects with tape loops, and its duration builds to stunning sonic effect. Big Mother Is Watching You was produced at Toronto Electronic Music Studio a year later 1966, and is a development of Oliveroes techniques of repetition and transformation that characterized her work for the ensuing three decades. The tape-delay technique and sine-wave combination build a massive cloud of sound which floats through a reverberating architecture ' Doppler effect from the drones and tape loops create a three dimensional sound that is far too elaborate to be called minimalist, the harmonies bubbling within make for ecstatic listening pleasure. The final piece Bye Bye Butterfly is a short tone poem made with stereo-imaging techniques. This issue comes highly recommended as an insight into the fascinating early work of this maverick composer. ~ Skip Jansen